If you think you know everything there is to know about the state of North Dakota, think again. Whether you're a resident of North Dakota or plan to visit soon, here are 15 interesting facts about North Dakota that you may or may not already know:
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1. North Dakota is known as the Peace Garden State, the Flickertail State, and the Roughrider State.
Hey, so, heads up: if you ever find yourself involved in a completely bizarre situation in which you must immediately answer questions about North Dakota or face some kind of dire punishment, it's cool - we got you. In this totally realistic, not-at-all-unlikely-to-happen made-up scenario, you might be asked to fire off seven fun facts about North Dakota that don't sound real, but they are. Again - don't worry. We got you. If these aren't some truly fun facts, well, we don't know what counts then:
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1. 1. None of the scenes in the movie Fargo were actually filmed there (but you can still check out the infamous woodchipper at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center.)
2. North Dakota is considered the 39th state because of alphabetical order instead of the literal order in which the statehoods were signed into law. President Benjamin Harrison kept it a secret as to which he signed first: North or South Dakota, so we just kinda decided collectively that we’ll go with alphabetical order on that one.
Well, don't we feel special! This imposing-looking building almost doesn't seem to fit in; it's a tower in the prairie, and it certainly sticks out. You can literally see it for miles.
4. North Dakota is the nation’s largest producer of honey!
It might help that North Dakota produces enough sunflowers to fill 726 million bags of sunflower seeds per year, too, so just those fields alone are likely enormously helpful! Summer is the best time of year to see incredible sunflowers in North Dakota.
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5. North Dakota produces six times more energy than it consumes, giving the excess goodies to other states.
The first wind farm to go up in North Dakota was the one built outside of Edgeley. In the years since, there have been many more to spring up - and we're a kind-hearted folk up here, so we're happy to share our surplus energy with neighbors.
6. North Dakota’s official state insect is the ladybug.
If you're interested in learning fun facts about North Dakota inventions and firsts, you've come to the right place. Discover how this often-overlooked state has been a trailblazer in various fields. In this article, we will dive into six groundbreaking achievements that took place right here in North Dakota. From innovative inventions to groundbreaking legislation, you'll be amazed by the rich history and the incredible contributions this state has made. So, buckle up as we journey through these fascinating answers to the question, "What was invented in North Dakota?"
The biggest tourist town in the state, Medora, is named after the wife of a French man who had not only a large impact on the state, but the meat industry as well. Marquis de Mores, the man, moved to North Dakota and staked quite a bit of land to start a cattle ranch. He realized while doing this that shipping the live cattle in rail cars to the east coast stockyards for processing was quite inefficient. His revolutionary idea was to process the meat right there on his farm, then ship the pre-packaged meat in train cars full of ice to wherever it needed to go. Unfortunately, the east coast stockyard owners were none too thrilled about this. They worried it would ruin their business, so they refused to buy meat from him, ultimately causing him to give up on his ranching endeavors.
That timeless name may make a little more sense now. A North Dakotan man named David Henderson Houston invented the Kodak camera and sold it to the founder of the company, George Eastman. The name came from the letters in 'Dakota,' as well as Eastman's desire for a name that was easy to remember, unique, and would become a household name.
This one may come as a surprise to most. It is believed that the first mosque in the entire United States was built in North Dakota, just outside the small town of Ross. The original structure was torn down some decades ago and now this building stands in its place. The original building was built by homesteaders just like all the others coming to the state - seeking land and a better life. Many people come to see it today for its special place in history.
Whether you call them tabs, tags, stickers, or otherwise - every car on the road in the country requires an up-to-date one. This started in none other than North Dakota by a DMV worker named Lenard Milo. It started as a requirement in this state only, then spread to everywhere else. Interestingly enough, the entire story of the tags is written out on Milo's gravestone.
North Dakota was the first, and remains the only, state to have a state-run bank. The Bank of North Dakota was established in 1919 to help promote industry growth in the state from anything to the agriculture industry to other forms of commerce.
This was big news more recently. North Dakota was the first state to put a law in the books about the use of police drones. A common misconception is that they were the first to allow police drones with nonlethal weapons (such as tasers), but other states allow them, too, usually because there are no laws prohibiting them. North Dakota was just the first state to make any sort of law regarding the subject. The law also states that lethal weapons are prohibited, which most other states do not have a law against.
Did any of these things invented in North Dakota surprise you? Some of them certainly did me! The name 'Kodak' makes a lot more sense now, that's for sure. Now, if someone asks you, "What was invented in North Dakota" you'll have a few interesting things to tell them.
Looking to learn more about life in North Dakota? Check out what life was like in 1935 in North Dakota.
